Police advised to enforce transport act along highlands highway

MINISTER for Works and Transport Francis Awesa has called on police to enforce the Transport Infrastructure Protection Act.
This follows the decision by heavy trucking companies to cease operations in fear of continuous intimidation, assault on drivers, damage to vehicles and the hefty compensation demands from people living along the Highlands Highway.
Awesa said he was aware of the companies’ concerns and that the government had sent police to Nipa and Tari in the Southern Highlands, and
Mingende in Chimbu.
He said in the short term, police would provide an escort for all convoys along the highway.
He said the government would buy vehicles for that purpose shortly.
Awesa said police would have to implement the laws for unnecessary demands for compensation to stop.
“These are illegal activities just like armed hold-ups, robberies along the road.
“This is wrong and I call on police to start implementing the Transport Infrastructure Protection Act,” he said.
He said the courts should impose tougher penalties on offenders.